Layoffs, salaries discussed at MCOE board meeting

Several people got up and spoke to the Mendocino County board of education at a Mendocino County Office of Education Monday afternoon meeting, in support of classified staff, who reportedly received layoff notices, in contrast to administrative staff who allegedly received raises.

"Only one employee from the Court Community School (CCS) inside Juvenile Hall was given a 60-day notice and we held off on giving the notice until after the holidays," clarified County Superintendent Paul Tichinin.

Over a five-year period, the CCS average daily attendance dropped by 57 percent, according to Tichinin, who added it was this downturn of ADA that prompted the CCS layoff.

Due to a statewide trend to downsize probation departments, fewer youths are being housed in Juvenile Hall, leaving empty seats within the CCS, said Tichinin.

The employee affected by the layoff was given the option of "bumping" a clerical worker, and taking over that position, said Tichinin.

In turn, the "bumped" clerical worker was given the option of "bumping" another clerical staff member and assuming that person's duties. So, in effect, the layoff of a CCS teacher trickled down to the future dismissal of a clerical worker.

In regard to the rumored administrative raises, Tichinin said the classified staff was offered the same deal - MCOE would pay employee health premiums, usually paid for by individual employees.

"The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) declined on behalf of the classified employees to take the raise," said Tichinin, adding the bargaining unit wanted to wait until Prop. 30 passed to see if it couldn't get a better deal for classified employees than the administration had already agreed to take themselves.

Tichinin also noted that all employees - administrative or classified - who had salary step increases built into their salary schedule would receive their raises and that MCOE is still waiting for discussions with AFT regarding raises for the other classified employees whose previous offer was declined by the union.

The large crowd gathered at Monday's meeting consisted of some who spoke directly to the board, while others read anonymous letters addressing their personnel concerns.

"People sometimes fear speaking out will have an impact on their work environments, but it feels like someone making an anonymous statement ... one could question the validity of the statement," said Tichinin.

Kelly Hancock can be reached at 468-3520, udjfeatures@ukiahdj.com and on Twitter @udjKelly.